Submerged stirrer



Feb. 7, 1933. F. O'NEILL SUBMERGED STIRRER Original Filed June 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1933. ONEILL 1,896,327

SUBMERGED STIRRER Original Filed June 1, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FRANK O'NEILL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO SUBMERGED STIR-BER Original application fled lane 1, 1928,

This invention relates to the handling of molten glass, especially the forming of gathers.

This invention has utility when incorporated in features of tank, pool and forehearth, and is a division of my application S. N. 282,088, filed June 1, 1928, glassware forming.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the tank and blank forming table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the circulator and drive therefor, for the molten glass in the pool;

Fig. 3 is a view of the circulator drive as from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified mechanism for maintaining circulation of glass in the pool; and 7 20 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drive of Fig. 4.

Mounted on vertical shaft 17 in housing 17 is pinion 18 in mesh with table. gear 19 mounted on column 20 (Fig. 1). The table ear 19 supports the blank forming mechan- 25 ism and controls the rotationthereof about this column 20 as an axis. The article finishing mechanism is maintained in synchronism with the blank forming mechanism by the table gear 19 in mesh with table gear 21 so which controls the rotation of the finishing mechanism.

Gather Tank 23 is provided with overhang boot or 35 forehearth 24 havin removable roof 25 providing opening 26 t erethrough exposing a portion of the 001 surface. The opening 26 is of arcuate orm having a radius equal to the radius of the blank mold travel and is disposed in the path of the blank molds. The blank molds comprise main sections 27, 28, having open bottom 29. The travel of the blank mold sections 27 28, is toward the boot 24 rocking as approaching the boot to 45 clear the overhang.

The mold sections then dip through the opening 26 to bring the open bottoms 29 againstthe ex osed surface, skimming along such surface or a determined distance an then rising to clear the opposite overhang edge.

Serial No. 282,088. Divided and this application filed September 7,

1929. Serial No. 390,957.

Molten glass circulator The exposed portion of said pool, together with the contact of the traveling molds on the molten glass surface, have a tendency to create a chill region along the travel line of the mold. To counteract this chilling action there is provided herein a molten glass circulating means which causes the glass in the overhang or boot 24 to flow back under the roof and into a heated region carrying therewith the attenuation from the previous charge. To this end there is provided motor 30 having shaft 31 on which is mounted pinion 32 in mesh with gear 33 mounted on shaft 34. The shaft 34 is mounted in bearing 35 which is carried by frame member 36. The frame member 36 is provided with slot 37 along which slot the bearing 35 is movable toward and from the shaft 31 of the motor. There is thus provided means for substituting smaller or larger gears 33 to vary the speed reduction between the shafts 31, 34. Mounted on the shaft34 is sprocket gear 38 about which extends chain 39 to s rocket gear 40 mounted on shaft 41. This s aft 41 also serves as a mounting means for the frame 36.

The shaft 41 extends through and is mounted by housing 42 and has mounted thereon and within this housing 42, Worm 43 in mesh with worm gear 44 mounted on shaft 45. The shaft 45 has universal joint 46 from which universal joint extends shaft 47 up through refractory member 48 as an island i 1 i the glass pool. The boot 24 also mounts bearings 49 for friction reduction on the shaft 47. The shaft 47 terminates in tapered oval end 50 and has mounted thereon stirrer or circulating member 51, which stirrer extends down into the glass pool. This stirrer is provided with fins 52 as glass circulating means and these fins 52 are maintained submerged within the glass.

The boot or overhang 24 may be adjusted as to height by means of supporting columns 53 having nuts 54 thereon for rotation up an down on screws 55. Mounted upon the columns 53, bracket 53 serves as a mounting for the stirring mechanism. It will be seen that adjustment of the columns will not only raise and lower the boot but will also raise and lower the stirring mechanism therewith.

In some instances it is desirable to modify this stirrer drive somewhat, so the motor 30 may be mounted on the top of the boot roof and its speed reduction gearing 32, 33, directly connected to the shaft 41. Further, the shaft 45 in this latter instance extends down wardly through the roof and terminates in tapered portion for mounting the stirring or circulating member. There is thus maintained a continued circulation of glass from back in the forehearth to the exposed pool portion and back again for re-heating, maintaining a uniform character of molten glass.

It may also be desirable to maintain the exposed portion of the glass pool at a comparatively high temperature, as under some conditions the cooling action may be greater than can be cared for by the circulator. To offset such condition. there is provided heating element 56 in the forehearth. The heating element 56 extends from one side in the forehearth to the other alon the edge of the exposed pool portion maintaining such exposed portion at a comparatively high temperature. Electric current is supplied this element by means of lines 57, 58, as extending from an electric source.

As a blank mold is charged with molten glass, there is an attenuation extendin from such gather at the pool and such is s eared off by means of continuously rotating disk 59 (Fig. 1). 1

The blank mold comprises a pair of main hinged members 27, 28, and a pair of minor or neck finish mold members 78, 79, carried bysupport 82. The support 82 mounts slide rods 87. Carried on these slide rods 87 and shiftable therealong is crosshead 88.

The crosshead 88 carries roller 89 which 00- acts with nonrotary cam 90 carried by the co1umn20. The crosshead 88 carries minor crosshead from which extends adjustable links 95 to rocker arms 96 swingable on fulcrums 97 carried by the support 82. The

7 arms 96 have on the opposite side of the fulcrums 97 from the links 95, pivot connections 98 from which extend links 99 to the mold members 27, 28. A sliding movement of the crosshead 88 upon the slide rods 87 will cause an opening or closing of these mold sections and the locking thereof in closed position.

The cam 90 is provided with auxiliary or overhanging cam portion 100 for en agin the roller 89 for positive shifting. tfiereo Suction line 102 extends through bracket 103 carried by the column 20 and has connection therefrom through flexible joint 108 and coupling 109 to second flexible joint 110 carried by the crosshead 88. Air communication is thus had to crosshead 114 on rods 113. Immediately after the suction is completed,

roller 174 strikes cam 178 causing arm 173 to be rocked inwardly.

Roller 183 carried by the crosshead 114, contacts cam 184. The cam 184 is so shaped as to cause the blank to be brought to position for being received by the blow molds on the blow table. As approaching transfer station, cam 184' mounted on the cam 184 coacts with roller 174 causing the arm to be swung downward. Cam 190 coacts with the roller 174 for throwing the arm 173 up into vertical position. 1

It may be desirous to run the machine without having feed of glass thereto and to this end manual valves 205' are disposed at various points around the machine so that an operator by opening any one of these valves 205' may allow air to flow by line 206.

The base 2 may be mounted on rollers 278.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure b Letters Patent is:

1. lass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank, a pool of molten g ass supplied from said tank, in proximity to the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, a. drive for the gather device, a peripherally inundated rotary circulator for the glass submerged in the pool below the gather surface with which gather surface the pool surface is continuous, and a drive for the circulator.

2. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling ather device, a tank providing a 001 of mo ten glass against the surface of w ich pool said ather device maybe brought by the carrier, a drive for the gather device, a circulator and a separate drive embodying a continuous uniformly-moving peripherally inundated for the glass inthe pool, a

circulator submerged below the gather surface region of the pool continuous with the pool surface.

3. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank providing a pool of molten glass a ainst the surface of which pool said gather evice may be brought by the carrier, a drive for thegather device, and a peripherally inundated circulator for the glass in the pool at all times below the surface to which the gather device is brought, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating submerged member.

4. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, a drive for the gather device, a circulator for the glass in the pool below the surface to which the gather device is brought and which surface is continuous with the pool surface, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating peripherally submerged member, and a drive for actuating the member the glass pool,

in the direction of the gather device travel in the pool. 7

5. Glass handlingi mechanism comprising a traveling gather evice, an overhang providing a 001 of molten glass against the surface of w ich pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhang, a drive for the gather device, a circulator for the glass in the pool, and a drive for the circulator fixed with the overhang.

6. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, an overhang providing a pool of molten glass a ainst the surface of which pool said gather evice may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhang, a drive for the gather device, a circulator for the glass in the pool below the gather surface from which surface the pool surface is continuous, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating submerged circulating member, and a drive fixedl mounted with the overhang.

7. (glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, an overhang providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhan a drive for the gather device, a circulator or the lass in the pool below the gather surface mm which surface the pool surface is continuous, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating submerged stirrer, a drive fixedly mounted with the overhang, and means for shifting the overhang and the circulator drive toward and from the gather device.

8. A tank, a pool of molten glass supplied from said tank, a movable circulator for the glass, said circulator being peripherally submerged in the pool in providing a pool gather surface thereover and continuous with the pool surface, and a drive for the circulator.

9. A tank, a pool of molten glass supplied from said tank, a rotary circulator for the glass, s'aid circulator embodying a continuously peripherally submerged member in providmga pool gather surface thereover and continuous with the pool surface, and a drive for said member.

10. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank,there being a pool of molten glass supplied from said tank, in proximity to the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, a drive for the gather device, a peripherally submerged rotary circulator for and'a separate drive for the circulator in svnchronism with said gather device.

11. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought a drive for the gather device, a circulator for the lass in the pool, and a separate drive emb ying a continuous uniformly-moving peripherally fully-submerged rotary circulator coactin for effective glass flow clearway surface or the succeeding gather as to preceding gather residue.

12. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling ather device, a tank providing a pool of mo ten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device maybe brought by the carrier, a drive for the gather device, and a peripherally submerged rotary circulator for the glass in the pool below the surface to which the gather device is brought, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating submerged member coacting for effective glass flow clearway surface for the succeeding gather as to preceding gather residue.

13. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, a drive for the gather device, a peripherally submerged rotary circulator for the glass in the pool below the surface to which the gather device is brought, the circulator embodying a continuously rotating submerged member, and a drive for actuating the member in the direction of the gather device travel in the pool coacting for effective glass bow clearway surface for the succeeding gather as to preceding gather residue.

14. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank having an overhang providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhan a drive for the gather device, a circulator %or the glass in the pool fixedlv mounted with the overhang, and a separate drive for the circulator at a predetermined rate as to the gather.

15. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank having an overhanghproviding a 001 of molten glass against t e surface of w ich pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhang, a drive for the ather device, a circulator for the glass in t 1e ool below the surface to which the gather evice is brought, the circulator being fixedly mounted with the overhang and embodying a continuously rotating submerged circulating member, and a drive mounted with the overhang effective at a predetermined rate as to the gather device for interference avoidance between the gather by the carrier,

device and the member.

16. Glass handling mechanism comprising a traveling gather device, a tank having an overhang providing a pool of molten glass against the surface of which pool said gather device may be brought by the carrier, an adjustable support for the overhang, a drive for the gather device, a circulator for the glass in the pool below the surface to which th be c gather device is brought, the circulator mg fixedlv mounted with the overhang and embodying a continuously rotating sub merged stirrer,

a drive mounted with the overhang effective at a predetermined rate as to the gather device for interference avoidance between the gather device and the stirrer, and means for shifting the overhang and the circulator drive toward and from the gather device.

17. The method of supplying molten glass which comprises, successively removing 18. The combination of a container for a.

pool of molten glass, means for successively removing mold charges from a gathering zone in said pool, and means for circulating the glass in said pool consisting of a stirring implement having a glass contacting portion, means for supporting said implement in such a position that the glass contacting portion thereof is wholly submerged in the glass, and extends beneath the surface of the glass in the gathering zone, said glass contacting portion terminating in the glass below the surface thereof, and means for actuating said 7 implement whereby the glass contacting portion thereof creates a current beneath the gathering zone, without directly agitating the surface of the glass.

In witness whereof I afiix mysignature.

FRANK ONEILL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,896,327.

FRANK O'NEILL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification the: above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 97, chin 13, for "how" reed "flow"; and that the said Letters Patent W should be reed with thin correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the, case in the Patent Office. v

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1933.

(Seal) Acting Corii 'mig'siibii gpoi Pawns.

February 7, i933.

for the gather device, a circulator for the glass in the pool below the surface to which th be c gather device is brought, the circulator mg fixedlv mounted with the overhang and embodying a continuously rotating sub merged stirrer,

a drive mounted with the overhang effective at a predetermined rate as to the gather device for interference avoidance between the gather device and the stirrer, and means for shifting the overhang and the circulator drive toward and from the gather device.

17. The method of supplying molten glass which comprises, successively removing 18. The combination of a container for a.

pool of molten glass, means for successively removing mold charges from a gathering zone in said pool, and means for circulating the glass in said pool consisting of a stirring implement having a glass contacting portion, means for supporting said implement in such a position that the glass contacting portion thereof is wholly submerged in the glass, and extends beneath the surface of the glass in the gathering zone, said glass contacting portion terminating in the glass below the surface thereof, and means for actuating said 7 implement whereby the glass contacting portion thereof creates a current beneath the gathering zone, without directly agitating the surface of the glass.

In witness whereof I afiix mysignature.

FRANK ONEILL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,896,327.

FRANK O'NEILL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification the: above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 97, chin 13, for "how" reed "flow"; and that the said Letters Patent W should be reed with thin correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the, case in the Patent Office. v

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1933.

(Seal) Acting Corii 'mig'siibii gpoi Pawns.

February 7, i933. 

